Category: Rick Enrico Blog

Brainstorming Techniques for the Dazed Presenter

brainstorming

presentation tips

presentation writing

Oct 06, 2014

Presentations are enormous and often difficult tasks. Whether you’re set to pitch investors or address potential clients, you’ll feel plenty of pressure to ace your performance. The pressure can be even more debilitating when you realize that the road to success requires plenty of steps. Writing the perfect speech and content involve several factors. Aside from that, there’s also the challenge of designing a PowerPoint presentation that’s both effective and engaging. First coined by Madison Avenue advertising executive Alex Osborn, brainstorming has been defined as a “relaxed and informal approach to problem-solving.” You lead with your topic and try to generate several different ideas that build off of each other. During the process, you can list down the craziest and most impossible solutions. The only goal is to sort through everything in order to pick out the best ideas.Here are a few brainstorming techniques you can try to jump start your presentation prep:

Freewriting

In a quiet space, write down as much as you can in 9 minutes. Don’t stop until the time is up. Just let your pen run through the page. Keep writing down your thoughts, even when you feel like they’re pretty unsubstantial. When the time is up, read back on everything you’ve written. Pick out the ideas that stand out and try the next three techniques to arrive at a more specific message.

Cubing

Pare down your ideas by considering your subject from a variety of different perspectives. Just as a cube has 6 sides, you can approach the subject of your presentation using 6 methods. Take a sheet of paper and try to answer the following points:

  • Describe peculiarities of the topic
  • Compare it with a related idea
  • Associate it with something else
  • Analyze the components closely
  • Apply it for a particular situation
  • Argue for and against it

Desired outcome

Another way to sort through ideas is by understanding the goals you want to achieve. In other words, try to figure out your main purpose. Why were you asked to deliver the presentation? What do you want to accomplish? What is the outcome you’re hoping for?

Audience perspective

You can also narrow down your list by keeping the audience in mind. Consider their point of view, and what they might feel about your presentation. In particular, ask yourself these questions:

  • Who are in your audience?
  • Why are they coming to hear you speak?
  • What do you want them to do?
  • How might they disagree with your ideas?

–If you’re in this situation, it’s not strange to feel a bit dazed and confused. There’s so much to consider and it can be hard to get started. The only way to know where to start is by figuring out which direction to take. You’ll need to know the message you want to deliver, and the ideas that you want the audience to take away. This is where brainstorming comes in.Organize your thoughts to arrive at a clear and definite direction for your presentation. Try these brainstorming techniques to find the exact message you want to share and deliver.

Reference

“Brainstorming: Generating Many Radical, Creative Ideas.” Mind Tools. Accessed October 6, 2014. Featured Image: Carl Milner via Flickr

Your Quick 7-Step Plan for Better PowerPoint Design

The success of your presentation relies so much on how well you prepare. That’s why the days leading up to a big speech can be quite stressful. There’s just so much to accomplish in order to deliver an engaging presentation. First, you’ll need brainstorm and figure out everything you have to say. After drafting your ideas, you have to carefully choose which points are the most significant to your core message. And after all that, there’s still the challenge of designing a memorable PowerPoint deck.If you’re running the last mile of presentation preparation, we’re here to make things easier for you. Here’s the PowerPoint design process condensed to 7 quick steps:

1. The Internet is the best source for inspiration

If you’re not sure how you want your slides to look like, you can find some inspiration by browsing through these links:

  • Top SlideShares – Browse through presentations that were featured in SlideShare’s homepage
  • Prezi Staff Picks – Look at the uploads curated by the Prezi staff
  • Note & Point – Find inspiration in a gallery of user-uploaded PowerPoint and Keynote presentations

2. Presentation experts have great ideas to share

You can also read the advice of presentation design experts. Read these blog entries for a creativity booster:

3. Figure out a general style for your slides

Once you’ve absorbed the best presentation ideas, it’s time to decide what PowerPoint design style to use. You can go for a minimalist design, which focuses on the use of typography and white space. On the other hand, you can choose to have a more image-based PowerPoint deck. Learn more about design basics by reading our Design 101 posts here and here.

4. Start with an analog approach

Take the time to sketch out how you want each slide to look. It doesn’t have to be neat. Just draft out where you want to place different elements to see if everything works nicely. In other words, create a rough storyboard first.

5. Think of what your audience wants

You should also consider what your audience wants to see. Try to look at your presentation through the eyes of the audience by asking these four questions.

6. Focus on a single task at a time

You might think multitasking is an efficient way to finish your presentation, but it’s not. When designing your slides, focus on one thing at a time. If you have to look for images, do it before typing your content and arranging the layout.

7. Remove any distraction

Aim for an uninterrupted PowerPoint session. The less you bother with other things, the faster you’ll finish designing your slides. But since you’re working on your computer, distraction is easy to access. Stop yourself from checking your email or social media accounts. Switch off your phone if you can. If you need extra help, you can make use of tools like StayFocused to block distracting websites.

You can ensure a great outcome if you take the time to prepare all the details of your presentation. Follow these 7 tips to create PowerPoint designs that are effective and memorable. You can also work with a PowerPoint design expert to get the best results.

Featured Image: UVF Graphic and Digital Design program via Flickr

Prezi Feature of the Week: Present the Big Picture with a Mind Map

mind map

mind mapping

prezi

Prezi Feature of the Week

Oct 02, 2014

When presenting, it’s important to show the big picture, as well as its minute details. For this week’s “Prezi Feature”, learn how you can create a mind map to do just that.

Ideas usually come to us in clusters, and it’s hard to separate one from the other. When we’re brainstorming, we can come up with a whole web of ideas from just a single concept. One idea will branch out to a new one, and two more will branch out from that. Before you know it, you have a complicated map of interlocking chains of thought. It’s usually chaotic, but it also perfectly shows how ideas are related to each other.When it’s time to turn your ideas into a presentation deck, it can be hard to trim the big picture. Do you focus on a single line of thought? Which one? What happens when an idea overlaps with something else? How do you turn creative chaos into a neat, linear narrative? Sometimes, you don’t have to. Visualize how a single topic can branch out into a web of ideas by creating a mind map with Prezi.

Finding order in the chaos

The challenge to mind mapping is that complex topics can easily turn into a huge, dizzying mess. To create some order, you’ll need to practice a bit of discipline. Your main goal is to make sure your mind map remains concise, while keeping all the important details. In other words, you’ll need to do some revisions.As you would when building a slide deck, start with an analogue approach. Grab a notepad and draft your mind map first. Start by writing down your main topic, and then let your ideas branch out across the page. Once you’ve written everything down, condense each idea into key concepts. This step is similar to how you’d create a presentation storyboard. Let the ideas flow freely first, and then edit out excessive and repetitive details.

Creating a mind map in the Prezi canvas

Once you’ve condensed your draft, it’s time to turn your ideas into a free-flowing presentation deck. Mind mapping involves combining colors, shapes, and images, plus the strategic arrangement of all these elements. Prezi is the perfect canvas for that. You’re free to move around each element and create a layout that suits the flow of your ideas. To accurately visualize your topic, take note of these tips when arranging your mind map:

1.) Use different frame types to organize your mind map

You can make use of different frame types to show how your ideas progress into different “levels”. In this example, the main topic is contained inside a rectangle frame. The two diverging ideas that branch out from there are inside a circle frame.

2.) Create hierarchy by manipulating frame size and changing arrow width

You can also represent  hierarchy in your mind map by manipulating the size of your frames. The farther you are from the center, the smaller your frames should be. Do the same thing with your arrows. Decrease thickness as you branch out across the canvas.

3.) Group specific parts or branches with an invisible frame

Add an invisible frame to group certain parts of your mind map together. This is useful if you want to focus on a specific branch before discussing each idea.

4.) Set the path carefully

The final look will depend on how you set the path. Once you’ve completed building the mind map, set a path that will allow the audience to see how everything works together. Give the full view at the start of your presentation, then make use of the zoom tool to focus on specific details. To illustrate, click here to view a mind map of a previous blog post called “3 Ways to Creativity“.

Conclusion

The flexibility of Prezi’s canvas allows you to create presentations that defy the usual one-track narratives. You can present the big picture and pan through the entire landscape.Show your audience how the core message relates to your main points by creating a mind map.Featured Image: Featured Image: Death to the Stock Photo / Prezi logo via Wikimedia Commons

5 Quick Pointers for Productive Business Meetings

business meetings

business presentations

presentation meetings

Sep 30, 2014

Not a lot of us look forward to business meetings. In fact, as gathered by Prezi in a recent survey, a majority of people admit to drifting off while listening to a colleague’s presentation. Instead of paying attention, more than half of the respondents said they’re often tempted to text, check their emails, go on social media, or even take a quick nap. How can you turn this situation around to ensure that your business meetings are always effective and productive?As you might have guessed, the secret lies in how you work the room. Keep in mind these pointers to conduct your business meetings well:

1. Figure out your goals and objectives

Before calling for a meeting, identify your main objective and figure out the goals you want to accomplish. If these goals seem simple enough, ask yourself whether it warrants an hour of face-to-face group interaction. As business etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore mentions, meetings can be quite expensive. Is a meeting actually necessary to meet your objective? Or will be you be able to gather answers by simply communicating through email or a quick phone call?

2. Don’t go over the time limit

The business world is fast-paced and schedules are usually packed with dozens of activities throughout the day. Make sure you use everyone’s time wisely. Set a time limit and follow through. Don’t let your meetings drag on beyond the schedule. If you do, everyone will soon lose their attention. A few might even have to sneak out of the conference room because of something else to attend to.

3. Have an agenda and stick to it

The best way to keep your meetings on track is by sticking to an agenda. List down all the topics you want covered, discussed, and resolved. Start with the most pressing matter and move down to issues that are less important. This will help everyone maintain their focus throughout your meeting, and avoid discussing points that are off-tangent. Be sure to distribute the agenda beforehand to give attendees some prior notice.

4. Encourage feedback and discussion

Business meetings are an avenue for open communication. Don’t monopolize the discussion just because you’re the one taking the lead. Give attendees the opportunity to provide feedback. If you’re making use of a slide deck to present some ideas, you might be tempted to rush in order to have time for a discussion. You can encourage free-flowing conversations by making use of a non-linear presentation instead.

5. Follow up with the attendees

If your meeting is successful, everyone will leave the conference room with their own action items. These are things that need to be accomplished based on the discussion you had. Designate someone in the group to list down all the action items and post it to a shared document. This will help everyone keep track of what needs to be done after the meeting. And to keep everyone productive, don’t forget to remind others of their tasks through follow-ups.

Keep your business meetings productive by setting clear goals. Most importantly, make sure everyone attending has the opportunity to share their own ideas and give feedback.

References

“Presentation Habits Presenters Don’t Like to Admit.” Prezi Blog. September 23, 2014. Accessed September 30, 2014.Whitmore, Jacqueline. “The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting.” Entrepreneur. January 03, 2014. Accessed September 30, 2014. Featured Image: Sebastiaan ter Burg via Flickr

The Science of Effective Storytelling in Presentations

We often talk about the advantages of storytelling as a presentation technique. A presentation that’s filled with facts and figures can easily stray into a monotonous lecture that slowly lulls the audience to sleep. But if you choose to tell a story, you can give your audience something personal, concrete, and relatable to listen to. You can elicit very strong emotions that allow them to participate and engage with what you’re sharing.As Dr. Paul Zak of the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies found, narratives can trigger powerful responses when told the right way.

The science of effective storytelling

In this short film made for the Future of Storytelling Summit, Dr. Zak carefully explains how the human brain responds to effective storytelling:

After observing the neural activity of respondents who viewed the story of a terminally-ill two-year-old boy, Dr. Zak found that effective storytelling can evoke powerful feelings of empathy that come from the release of particular neurochemicals, including oxytocin and cortisol. Furthermore, these powerful responses often turn into concrete and positive action.This, however, doesn’t happen by telling just any other story. In order to be effective, the narrative has to follow the dramatic arc outlined by German playwright Gustav Freytag: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Otherwise, as Dr. Zak concluded, listeners will have “little if any emotional or chemical response.”

What does this mean for presentations?

To elicit the same powerful emotions from your audience, craft a story that follows the solid structure Gustav Freytag first envisioned 150 years ago:

Exposition

In a literary story, this is where the author lays out some “ground work” by presenting the characters, setting, and basic conflict.For your presentations, this is where you establish some context. Introduce the point of view you’re presenting, and share some background information. If the story  focuses on an experience you had with a client, set the scene and introduce important details.

Rising Action

After presenting the context of your story, it’s time to build tension and increase conflict. This is where you identify obstacles that prevent your character from feeling fully satisfied or happy. If your story is from a target customer’s POV, tell your audience about the challenges they face.

Climax

As the turning point of your story, the climax is the part where your character comes face-to-face with their problem. This is where the conflict becomes fully-realized and a solution is seen on the horizon. For your presentation, the climax marks where you start driving home your core message.

Falling Action

Slowly, as a solution becomes clearer and clearer, your character takes a course of action towards the identified goal. In the traditional sense, this is where the protagonist battles the antagonist. For your presentation, this is where you continue explaining your core message, focusing on how it helps resolve the problems you introduced early on.

Conclusion/Resolution

Finally, describe how your character meets their goals. This is where you explain how you and a difficult client came to an agreement. In another example, the conclusion is the part that details how your target customer finally achieves full satisfaction.–Powerful storytelling can change the outcome of your presentations. Share stories that engage your audience by following an age-old technique that has always been universally effective. Featured Image: Screen shot from Future of StoryTelling: Paul Zak 

How to Create a STAR Moment for Your Presentations

Nancy Duarte

presentation delivery

presentation expert

presentation tips

star moment

Sep 26, 2014

A STAR Moment (Something They’ll Always Remember) is a memorable point or experience in your presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Designed by communications expert Nancy Duarte, a STAR Moment captures attention and makes your message resonate long after the presentation is over. Here’s how to create a STAR Moment for your presentation:

1. Identify the Key Message

  • Why it matters: The STAR Moment should amplify your core message. It’s the idea or point you want your audience to walk away remembering. Having a clear, central theme helps ensure that the STAR Moment reinforces the overall goal of your presentation.
  • How to apply: Before planning your STAR Moment, ask yourself: What is the one takeaway I want the audience to remember? For example, if you’re presenting a business proposal, your STAR Moment should highlight the most compelling benefit or insight.

2. Use Strong Visuals or Demonstrations

  • Why it matters: Visuals are powerful tools for creating memorable moments. A surprising or stunning visual can leave a lasting impact.
  • How to apply: Use a compelling image, infographic, or video that reinforces your message. You can also consider live demonstrations. For example, Steve Jobs was known for incorporating STAR Moments in Apple presentations by unveiling new products in dramatic and unexpected ways.

3. Tell a Powerful Story

  • Why it matters: People connect with stories on an emotional level. A well-told story can make complex ideas relatable and memorable.
  • How to apply: Share a real-life anecdote or a personal story that supports your key message. Ensure it’s emotionally engaging and relevant to your audience. For example, a speaker introducing a new healthcare solution might tell a moving story about how it transformed a patient’s life.

4. Create a Dramatic Moment or Big Reveal

  • Why it matters: Surprises grab attention and make information stick. A big reveal or unexpected twist can make your STAR Moment unforgettable.
  • How to apply: Plan a moment where you introduce a surprising statistic, stunning fact, or reveal an innovative product that catches the audience off guard. This could involve unveiling new information or a solution in a way that the audience doesn’t expect.

5. Incorporate a Call to Action or Challenge

  • Why it matters: A powerful call to action can inspire the audience to take the next step and keeps your presentation in their minds.
  • How to apply: End your presentation with a bold challenge or call to action that motivates the audience to act. For example, if you’re presenting on sustainability, ask the audience to commit to making a specific change in their lifestyle or business operations.

6. Use Silence or Pause for Emphasis

  • Why it matters: Pausing at the right moment can build tension and anticipation, making your point more impactful.
  • How to apply: After delivering a significant statistic or major point, use a strategic pause. This allows the audience to absorb the information and adds weight to your message.

By focusing on these elements, you can craft a STAR Moment that leaves a lasting impression, helping your presentation stand out and making your message “Something They’ll Always Remember.”Sources:

  • Nancy Duarte’s STAR Moment Concept in her book Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences.

Prezi Feature of the Week: Getting Started

powerpoint alternative

presentation software

prezi

Prezi Feature of the Week

prezi tutorial

Sep 25, 2014

Creating a compelling and engaging story in a Prezi presentation can make a world of difference when it comes to captivating your audience. Prezi’s dynamic, non-linear format is perfect for storytelling, as it allows you to present information in a more visually stimulating and fluid way than traditional slide-based presentations. However, constructing a powerful narrative with Prezi requires careful planning and strategic design choices to ensure your story flows seamlessly and resonates with your audience.Here’s the path to creating the perfect Prezi story:

1. Define Your Core Message

Every great story starts with a clear and impactful core message. Before diving into the design of your Prezi, ask yourself: What is the one thing I want my audience to remember after this presentation? Defining your core message early on helps shape the rest of your content and ensures that your presentation stays focused.Why It’s Important:

  • Sets the Direction: A well-defined core message acts as the foundation of your story, guiding your narrative and helping you stay on track.
  • Enhances Clarity: A clear message makes it easier for your audience to understand and retain the information you’re presenting.

How to Do It:

  • Write down the single key idea you want your audience to take away from the presentation.
  • Keep your core message simple and concise, so it’s easy to convey and remember.

Example: If you’re presenting a new product, your core message could be: “This product will revolutionize the way we work by simplifying complex tasks.”

2. Outline Your Story Structure

Once you’ve defined your core message, outline the structure of your story. Think of your Prezi as a narrative journey, with a beginning, middle, and end. Organizing your content into a logical flow helps your audience follow along and keeps them engaged throughout.Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Flow: A clear structure ensures that your story progresses logically, preventing confusion and maintaining engagement.
  • Helps the Audience Navigate: Structuring your Prezi in a way that is easy to follow helps your audience absorb information without feeling overwhelmed.

How to Do It:

  • Break your story into three parts: the introduction (set the stage), the body (present the main content), and the conclusion (wrap up and reinforce the key message).
  • Ensure each section flows naturally into the next, using Prezi’s zooming and panning features to create smooth transitions.

Example: In a presentation on business growth, start by introducing the challenge, move into key strategies for overcoming it, and end with a success story or projection for the future.

3. Leverage Prezi’s Non-Linear Format

One of Prezi’s unique advantages is its non-linear format, which allows you to present information in a more dynamic, flexible way than traditional linear slide presentations. Take advantage of this feature by structuring your story in a way that moves around key ideas, zooming in and out of details, rather than moving slide-by-slide.Why It’s Important:

  • Engages the Audience: A non-linear flow keeps the audience interested and engaged, offering a break from the predictable slide transitions of PowerPoint.
  • Emphasizes Key Points: Zooming in and out of key content highlights important information and reinforces your story.

How to Do It:

  • Use Prezi’s zooming feature to transition between big-picture ideas and detailed explanations, giving your audience a sense of movement and depth.
  • Arrange content elements spatially to create visual relationships between different parts of your story.

Example: For a product launch presentation, you could start with a zoomed-out view of the market landscape, then zoom in on specific customer pain points, and finally zoom in further to show how your product addresses those needs.

4. Make Use of Visual Metaphors

Visual metaphors are an effective way to enhance your Prezi story by making complex ideas more relatable and easier to understand. Prezi’s dynamic canvas allows you to represent abstract concepts using metaphors like pathways, trees, or mountains, adding depth and creativity to your narrative.Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies Complex Ideas: Visual metaphors break down complex information into easily digestible and relatable concepts.
  • Creates Memorable Visuals: Metaphors leave a lasting impression, helping your audience remember key points long after the presentation is over.

How to Do It:

  • Choose a metaphor that aligns with your core message. For example, a roadmap can symbolize a journey to success, while a tree can represent growth and branching out.
  • Integrate your metaphor into the overall layout of your Prezi, using the zooming feature to navigate through different parts of the metaphor.

Example: For a project timeline presentation, use a road or pathway as the central visual metaphor, with different milestones marked along the way. Zoom in on each milestone to provide more detail.

5. Use Storytelling Techniques

Crafting a compelling Prezi story goes beyond just organizing your content—it’s about creating an emotional connection with your audience. Use traditional storytelling techniques such as conflict, resolution, and a call to action to make your presentation more engaging and persuasive.Why It’s Important:

  • Builds Emotional Engagement: Storytelling techniques tap into emotions, making your presentation more memorable and impactful.
  • Encourages Action: A well-told story not only informs but also inspires action, motivating your audience to take the next step.

How to Do It:

  • Introduce a problem or conflict early on to grab the audience’s attention.
  • Present your solution or idea as the resolution to the conflict.
  • End with a clear call to action, encouraging your audience to act on the information you’ve provided.

Example: If you’re pitching a new marketing strategy, start by outlining the current challenges your company faces, then present your strategy as the solution. Conclude with a call to action, such as implementing the new strategy.

6. Keep It Visually Engaging

While storytelling is important, the visuals you use in Prezi are equally crucial to maintaining audience attention. Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much text or clutter. Instead, rely on visuals like images, icons, and videos to support your narrative.Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps the Audience Focused: Visuals are more engaging than text-heavy slides and help keep the audience focused on the key points.
  • Simplifies Complex Data: Charts, graphs, and images can help simplify complex information, making it easier for the audience to understand.

How to Do It:

  • Use high-quality images and icons to illustrate your story without overcrowding the presentation.
  • Break up large blocks of text with visuals that support the key points, such as data visualizations or case studies.

Example: In a presentation on company performance, replace text-heavy slides with charts that visually represent growth metrics, and use icons to represent key performance indicators (KPIs).

7. End with a Powerful Conclusion

The conclusion of your Prezi should bring your story full circle, reinforcing your core message and leaving the audience with a clear takeaway. It’s your final opportunity to make an impact and inspire action.Why It’s Important:

  • Reinforces the Main Idea: A strong conclusion ensures that your audience leaves with a clear understanding of your core message.
  • Calls the Audience to Action: Ending with a call to action encourages your audience to engage with your message beyond the presentation.

How to Do It:

  • Summarize the key points of your presentation, tying them back to your core message.
  • End with a clear call to action, whether it’s adopting a new idea, investing in your product, or taking the next step in a project.

Example: Conclude your presentation with a zoomed-out view of your entire Prezi, summarizing the journey you’ve taken the audience on, and finish with a call to action like “Let’s take the next step together.”

Final Thoughts

Creating a perfect Prezi story is about combining dynamic visuals, non-linear navigation, and classic storytelling techniques to craft a presentation that captivates and inspires your audience. By defining your core message, organizing your content, leveraging visual metaphors, and using Prezi’s unique features effectively, you can build a presentation that is both engaging and memorable. Follow this path, and you’ll be well on your way to delivering a powerful Prezi story that leaves a lasting impact.

Designing PowerPoint Decks for the Smartphone

interactive presentations

mobile-viewing

online presentations

PowerPoint Design

smartphones

Sep 24, 2014

Millions of Americans are glued to their smartphones. According to data gathered by Statista Dossier, there are currently around 163 million smartphone users in the US. The numbers are also expected to rise to 220 million by 2018. This comes as no surprise, considering that industry giants like Apple and Samsung release innovative new designs almost every year. In fact, Apple just released the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.Luckily, it doesn’t take a lot of work to make sure that your PowerPoint decks are compatible for viewing on smartphones. All you have to do is follow these four basic rules:

1. Big and bold text

Matthew Smith / Note&PointEven if the iPhone 6 Plus has a screen size of 5.5 inches, that’s still a lot less room than where you’d commonly show a PowerPoint deck.  Make sure that the font type and size that you use is extremely readable. Go for 30 points or higher. Stylized fonts should always be larger than your usual sans serif text. You don’t want the audience to squint just to read what you’re trying to say.

2. High-contrast colors

Idan Gazit / Note&PointAnother way to increase the readability of your PowerPoint designs is through high-contrast colors. Use either a dark background with light-colored text or vice versa. Similarly, avoid using colors that are too bright. Try for a more muted palette with only a few vibrant pops of color every so often.

3. Powerful images over bullet points and paragraphs

Stephen P. Anderson / Note&PointDon’t overwhelm your target audience with too much text. Visualize your key points with powerful images instead. This will help keep your PowerPoint deck simple and straightforward. Don’t try to discuss too much concepts at one go. Explaining complicated concepts will require more sentences and paragraphs. If you feel like there’s something in your content that needs further explanation, simply link to other resources instead. You can also try to make a flowchart or an infographic using free online tools like Piktochart.

4. Simplicity

Stephen P. Anderson / Note&PointDespite the need for visuals, it’s also important that you don’t complicate your PowerPoint designs. Remember, you don’t have much space to work with. Always be mindful of white space and maintain balance in your design. You can still add some animations and transitions, but keep them to a minimum. Aim for a seamless viewing experience. Having too many elements will cause your presentation to lag.

The Takeaway

Smartphone users love the flexibility and convenience it offers. From your phone, you have access to a host of information. If you want to settle a silly argument, you can simply ask Siri for the answer. If you want to keep your work on track, there are plenty of apps that help you organize your ideas and to-do-list.Among the other things you can do on a smartphone is deliver and view a presentation. You can share your PowerPoint deck through SlideShare or Brainshark.In the boardroom, you won’t have to set-up a laptop and projector. With interactive apps like SlideShark and SlideKlowd, you can share your presentation directly to your audience’s devices.

Reference

“Smartphone Users in the US 2010-2019.” Statista. Accessed September 24, 2014.

What to Watch Out for During Your Presentation’s Q&A

presentation q&a

presentation tips

questions and answers

Sep 23, 2014

Handling the Q&A session effectively is a critical part of your presentation. While it can enhance credibility, there are key things to watch out for to avoid pitfalls and maintain control. Here are some crucial aspects to monitor during the Q&A:

1. Managing Time

  • Why it matters: Q&A sessions can easily stretch beyond the allocated time, disrupting schedules or leaving you rushed at the end. It’s essential to keep track of time to ensure you can wrap up the session appropriately.
  • How to manage it: Set a time limit for Q&A and let the audience know in advance. Keep an eye on the clock, and if questions go long, politely let the audience know that you’ll take one more question. You can also invite those with additional inquiries to speak with you afterward.

2. Handling Difficult or Off-Topic Questions

  • Why it matters: Sometimes, audience members ask challenging, critical, or unrelated questions that can derail the session or create tension. These moments can lead to discomfort for both the presenter and the audience.
  • How to manage it: Remain calm and composed, and use phrases like, “That’s a great question, but not directly related to today’s topic. I’d be happy to discuss it with you afterward.” For difficult or critical questions, acknowledge the concern and provide a brief, respectful response without becoming defensive.

3. Avoiding Long-Winded Answers

  • Why it matters: Giving lengthy or overly detailed responses can disengage the audience and eat up valuable time. You risk losing the audience’s attention, especially if the question only applies to a small subset of attendees.
  • How to manage it: Keep your answers concise and focused. Answer the question directly, provide necessary context, and then move on to the next question. If more detail is required, offer to follow up with the person one-on-one after the session.

4. Engaging the Entire Audience

  • Why it matters: Focusing too much on one individual or a specific question can lead to disengagement from the rest of the audience, especially if the topic is very niche or technical.
  • How to manage it: Address the entire audience even while responding to individual questions. Make sure your answers are broadly applicable, and if a question is highly specific, offer to discuss it with the person separately after the Q&A.

5. Dealing with Multiple Questions at Once

  • Why it matters: Some audience members may ask multiple questions at once, making it difficult to provide a coherent and structured response. Answering all at once may confuse both you and the audience.
  • How to manage it: Politely request the person to focus on one question first, or address the first part of their question, and then ask them to clarify or repeat any remaining inquiries. This helps keep the flow of the session organized.

6. Recognizing When You Don’t Have the Answer

  • Why it matters: Not knowing the answer to a question can be intimidating, but it’s better to admit you don’t know than to guess or provide inaccurate information. Trying to answer when uncertain can hurt your credibility.
  • How to manage it: If you don’t know the answer, be honest and say, “That’s an interesting question. I’d need to look into it further and get back to you with the correct information.” Follow up afterward if possible to maintain trust.

7. Encouraging Questions from a Quiet Audience

  • Why it matters: Sometimes, the audience might be hesitant to ask questions, leading to awkward silences. This can make the session feel less interactive and may even reflect poorly on engagement.
  • How to manage it: If no one is asking questions, be ready with a few pre-prepared questions to get the conversation going. You can also rephrase or summarize key points from your presentation and ask the audience if they would like further clarification.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can manage your Q&A session with confidence and professionalism, ensuring that it adds value to your presentation rather than becoming a source of stress.

Presentation Tips: How to Supercharge Your Monday Morning Meetings

The weekend has come and gone, and you’re faced with another Monday. As much as you love your job, it’s always a challenge to start a new work week with plenty of enthusiasm. It’s no wonder that “Rainy Days and Mondays” easily became a hit in 1971.

Perhaps, after a cup of coffee, you can easily plunge in to work mode. But the real challenge is getting through the dreaded Monday morning meetings. If you’re the one presenting, you’ll find yourself addressing a group of people longing to crawl back into their beds. To help, take note of these three presentation tips:

Start with something fun

Stop people from dozing off by starting your presentation strong. Try to integrate an element of fun to get everyone excited. You can organize a quick activity, or try your hand at telling a few jokes. Be creative and try to come up with something that suits your topic and presentation delivery style. If you have to use slides for your meeting, don’t dim the lights until you’ve finished with the introduction. As we all know, a dark room is the perfect place for a nap.

Keep it quick and simple

A brief and concise presentation is always better for audience engagement, and it’s particularly crucial for Monday morning meetings. Give your audience a quick overview by outlining key points. Don’t let it drag out by focusing too much on the details. There’s plenty of time to tackle that during the rest of the week. For Monday meetings, you want to encourage your team to gear up and accomplish as much as they can. You can’t achieve that by overwhelming them with data.

Encourage dialogue and discussion

To get maximum engagement, you can also encourage the audience to take part in the discussion. Allow people to raise their points and concerns as you go along your presentation. With a non-linear structure, you can have a more organic conversation without disrupting the flow of ideas. Simply introduce the main points you want to discuss, and allow your conversation to navigate the direction of your presentation. You can make use of Prezi to create non-linear slide decks. You can also get a similar effect by using PowerPoint’s hyperlink function.Give your audience the motivation they need for the rest of the work week. Make sure your Monday morning meetings are fueled with engaging and productive discussions.READ MORE: Monday morning presentations – The Prezenter Featured Image: trophygeek via Flickr